The largest organisation in Europe for advancing the chemical sciences, the Royal Society of Chemistry has the longest continuous tradition of any chemical society.

Professor Weiss was one of only 12 new Fellows worldwide named in this round. Being made a Fellow is the most senior category of membership of the Royal Society of Chemistry and is open to those with substantial career progression who can offer evidence of seniority and maturity of experience in any field which involves or promotes the advancement or wider application of chemical science.

"I'm delighted to be elected as a Fellow, as the Royal Society of Chemistry is enormously respected internationally, and in the UK where it is based. I am humbled to receive this, given that they recognised just 12 people as Fellows at this time," said Professor Weiss.

"It's a great recognition of the international value of my lab's elastin research, particularly my lab's ability to massively increase our molecular understanding of the basis of tissue elasticity."

Working on elastin, Professor Weiss heads the leading lab in studies of human elastic protein and synthetic elastin materials for tissue repair. His research focuses on the assembly of human elastic tissue, damage to it and its repair. He works on the self-assembling elastic protein tropoelastin and the use of synthetic elastin to repair elastic tissues in skin, artery, bladder and lung tissues.

"It's important that the Royal Society of Chemistry recognises top achieving scientists. Sure, part of it is good for the ego, but more importantly, as scientists we strive to climb higher and do better. Getting acknowledged by my peers is a nice way to say: 'You're on track and we appreciate your work'. Plus it's great to be recognised internationally," said Professor Weiss.

As part of being a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Professor Weiss will have the opportunity to speak at a number of Royal Society of Chemistry events this year internationally.

This recognition from the UK follows on from another honour for Professor Weiss a few months earlier from the USA, as the only Australian to be made a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers at the time.

"I'm thrilled that Aussie science is appreciated as world class, with both these international bodies acknowledging the world-leading research taking place in Australia," said Professor Weiss.